THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The first eight Cal Lutheran batters collected a base hit to open Sunday's home doubleheader against Chapman. The Regals scored eight first inning runs in a 10-4 game one victory, while the Panthers took game two by a 6-1 margin.
Box Score (Game 1): CLU 10, CU 4 - F
Box Score (Game 2): CU 6, CLU 1 - F
A hitting clinic to start game one, an errorless day on defense, and a pair of solid pitching performances highlighted Cal Lutheran's afternoon against Chapman. Pitcher Katelyn Downing fired over 200 pitches on Sunday, coming off the heels of her game one effort on Saturday against La Verne less than 24 hours prior.
Cal Lutheran 10, Chapman 4 - F
Cal Lutheran scored a season-high 10 runs in Sunday's opener against Chapman. Eight runs came in the opening frame courtesy of nine base hits in the first. The first eight hitters in the CLU line-up connected for a hit to start the game.
Five different Regals drove in runs during the rally led by three from Kayla Sakamoto. She started the rally with an RBI-single and ended the offensive onslaught with a two-run base hit. All nine starters in the batting order contributed at least one hit, including a pair from Kathleen Watson-Otani, Shannon Tinsley, Danika Green, and Sakamoto.
CLU starting pitcher Katelyn Downing returned to the circle in the second inning as the recipient of a comfortable 8-0 lead. However Chapman immediately responded with two runs in the second and loaded the bases before recording an out in the frame.
Downing hunkered down and went on to retire the next three batters and Cal Lutheran led 9-4 at the end of three full innings. She was lifted to start the fourth inning but returned in the sixth and recorded the final five outs without suffering any further damage to earn her first win of the season.
Chapman pitcher Kimmi Takahashi was called upon in a relief appearance before the Panthers were able to record a single out. She allowed four runs and needed just 59 pitches to complete her six inning effort. Teammate Kyla Javier led the Chapman offense going 2-for-3 with two RBI at the plate in the loss.
Chapman 6, Cal Lutheran 1 - F
Chapman's Karina Muniz and Kerry Peterson hit back-to-back doubles off the outfield wall to start off game two. Teammate Michelle Pitts followed with a two-run homer to put the Panthers up three before the Regals stepped to the plate.
The Chapman trio combined to go 8-for-14 with three runs batted in during game two. The Panthers collected 15 base hits including six for extra bases.
Downing was summoned back to the circle and essentially started the game facing a 3-0 deficit. The sophomore hurler tossed 6.1 innings against La Verne the day prior, and threw 81 pitches in Sunday's game one victory over Chapman.
Her gutsy game two effort featured 121 pitches during her seven innings of work. A three-run fifth inning rally was the only damage the Panthers caused against Downing. For the most part she scattered 12 hits she allowed as Chapman stranded 12 runners on base in the game.
Chapman pitcher Cassie Oregel was experiencing similar success against Cal Lutheran. The Regals managed just five hits with one coming in each of the final five innings. Oregel picked up the complete game victory striking out six batters. An error-aided sixth inning run was the only score the Regals managed against the Panther starter.
Cal Lutheran's Liz Mertel went 1-for-2 at the plate and brought home the lone Regals run on a sacrifice fly. She was one of five CLU batters to record a hit in the loss.
Cal Lutheran (3-11, 1-5 SCIAC) will be on the road Saturday, March 3, against Whittier (2-6, 0-6 SCIAC).
